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AssigneeGenencor International, Inc.
InventorsNigel Dunn-Coleman, Timothy Langdon, Phillip Morris
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Described herein are methods to enhance the production of more highly fermentable carbohydrates in plants, especially forage grasses. The invention provides for transgenic plants transformed with expression vectors containing a DNA sequence encoding ferulic acid esterase I from Aspergillus, preferably A. niger. The expression vectors may optionally comprise a DNA sequence encoding xylanase from Trichoderma, preferably T. reesei. Expression of the enzyme(s) is targeted to specific cellular compartments, in specific tissues and under specific environmental conditions. Uses of this invention include, but are not limited to, forage with improved digestibility for livestock, and enhanced biomass conversion.
A method of controlling the level of phenolic acids in plant cell walls of a transgenic plant, the method comprising:
A method for increasing digestibility of a plant for a grass-fed animal, the method comprising introducing into a plant an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a ferulic acid esterase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and a signal sequence that targets expression of the ferulic acid esterase to the endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole, apoplast, or golgi apparatus, wherein the plant is selected from Festuca, Lolium, Sorghum, Zea, Triticum, Avena, and Poa, wherein the ferulic acid esterase is expressed in said plant, and wherein said ferulic acid esterase increases digestibility of the plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.